Shaking it off

“Good Morning America” invaded downtown Winter Garden Oct. 26 as five girls learned they won nationwide contest to meet Taylor Swift.

WINTER GARDEN — Five local teens videotaped a choreographed dance routine at downtown Winter Garden’s splash pad last week and entered the video in Good Morning America’s “Shake It Off” Contest. The prize? A chance to meet singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and have VIP seating for her New York City performance this week.

The video made by the girls — 13-year-olds Sydney Mays, Janel Hernandez and Shay Henderson, and 15-year-olds Lexi Flanigan and Ashley Benson — competed with about 800 other videos, and officials selected theirs as a finalist.

On Monday morning, the girls assembled at the splash pad with “Good Morning America” cameras and producers and a sea of sideline participants, from Ocoee and West Orange high school cheerleaders and Ocoee marching band members to fans of GMA and Swift. When the cameras rolled at 8:45 a.m., the teens, and all of America, found out during the live broadcast that they actually won the contest. The girls screamed and danced and waved their giant cardboard VIP tickets, and the crowd cheered with them.

Swift was on Monday’s show live from New York and congratulated the local dancers, who are all students at Shooting Stars School of Performing Arts in Clermont.

The pop star told the grinning girls: “I love you so much. I’m so emotional watching your video. You put so much thought into it, and you put so much spirit into it, and I’m so excited to meet you guys.”

She also wished Janel an on-air happy birthday.

Contestants were asked to send in a 30-second dancing or acting video that explained why they were inspired by Swift’s new No. 1 song, “Shake It Off.” More than 800 entries were submitted.

When asked why the song inspired them, Sydney said: “Taylor is just such an inspiring person. And her song just basically says, ‘Shake off all the negativity that comes with life and just be yourself, and if you’re happy with who you are, then everyone else should be, too.’”

Each video had to include a 200-word essay, and Sydney included those words; but she also said she was inspired by her friend, Lexi, who keeps a positive outlook on life despite living with Type 1 Diabetes.

In the video they submitted, the girls are cruising in a convertible and stop at the splash pad in downtown Winter Garden. They jump out and start dancing in unison as water shoots up around them. The GMA producers said they loved the video and where it was shot and wanted to broadcast from that same location.

On Wednesday, the dancers flew to New York City and were set to appear on Thursday’s “Good Morning America” to meet Swift and enjoy her concert as special guests. Sydney and Shay live in Winter Garden, Lexi is from Ocoee, Janel is a Windermere resident, and Ashley lives in Clermont.

Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode at [email protected].

"Good Morning America" producers Margaret Pergler, left, and Amanda Keegan were in Winter Garden on Monday for the big announcement.